GUERNSEY Wastewater will be installing a new surface water sewer in Vauvert as part of its strategic separation of surface and foul water sewers.

The project, which will commence on 25 July 2011 and will necessitate the closure of Vauvert for six weeks over the school summer holidays, will be carried out by local contractors Geomarine at a cost of around £150,000.

(click on map to expand - map courtesy of Guernsey wastewater)

The separation of surface and foul water mains is a key part of the forthcoming wastewater business plan, due to be released in the next few months. Historically, much of the urban land in Guernsey was installed with combined sewers which handled both foul water and surface water. However, this combined flow can cause flooding during heavy rainfall.

Urban areas are more susceptible to flooding problems as there are fewer streams and soakaways to drain the surface water compared to rural areas.

Deputy Bernard Flouquet, Minister of the Public Services Department said: “The strategic separation of foul and surface water mains is vital to the future of the wastewater infrastructure. Apart from the risk of flooding, having combined flows means that costs are incurred through having to pump the surface water along with the foul water flow. Also, it is necessary to separate the flows in order for the foul water to be treated appropriately at Belle Greve.”

Director of water services Andrew Redhead added: “We are carrying out these works in the school summer holidays to minimise the inconvenience to the public that roadworks inevitably bring. Our contractors will often be working 6-day weeks in order to complete the project as quickly as possible.”